— What is the idea behind Villa Metato?

Margherita and Nick: “The whole idea was to enable busy people to get away from it all, to find a little bit of paradise or sanctuary in the middle of the countryside in a traditional Italian environment. I used to live in London and I know what it’s like when you work in a large city...

This area, which is called the Upper Tiber Valley is still unspoiled. When we bought the property in 2004, someone said that it was basically like living in the ‘70s. I think that really is true. It’s an area where one can come and sit in a restaurant where the only voices you hear are Italian. In Florence nowadays, you’re just swamped with tourists.”

— Villa Metato pool

— Please tell us a little bit about Villa Metato.

Margherita and Nick: “The property was originally owned by a middle class farmer. It is quite unique because it used to be an old barn which hasn’t been converted in the sense that it still has a very open plan feel about it. This is very difficult to find in this area and one of the things that drew me to the house.

It has beautiful, almost Norman rather than Roman arches, and all original flooring. There are no dates on most of the buildings here in this part of Umbria and nobody really has an exact date of when all the buildings were built, but there’s a stone on the wall of the guest house which says 1855.”

— Living area

— What was your inspiration to buy the property and convert it into vacation rental?

Margherita and Nick: “I didn’t want to start an agriturismo or a larger hotel. The idea of the vacation home or Bed & Breakfast is really for couples to come and enjoy the countryside, to find themselves again and to get away from their hectic lives.

We have this life nowadays where we rarely see our partners. We end up sleeping with them, but the amount of time we see them Monday through Friday is maybe three to four hours a day. I thought it would be nice to have an area where one can go relax and enjoy each other’s company.”

—

— The interior looks really beautiful. Why did you choose a mid-century style over a something more traditional?

Margherita and Nick: “I’ve been collecting modern furniture for 20, 30 years now. In the house there’s a prototype by Tom Dixon, some Eames chairs, a Scandinavian ‘60s teak table, little bits of Joe Colombo, some early pieces of Sir Terence Conran and an original poster from the first tour of the Sex Pistols. I think it’s a nice combination to mix and match between the very old and the contemporary. It complements one another.

I don’t think it’s to everybody’s taste, but what you’re really buying into is a personal house. It’s not the idea that you’re staying in some anonymous hotel room. First and foremost, you’re staying in our home. I think that’s what people like about it. It’s an extension of ourselves, our lives, what we’ve collected throughout our lives which we hope other people will enjoy.”

— Swimming pool

— Please tell us a bit about the facilities at Villa Metato.

Margherita and Nick: “There’s a stereo system throughout the house, providing music both upstairs and down, a DVD player and a very nice plasma television with surround sound. We also offer WIFI, which is not all around the property at the moment, but hopefully will be soon.

There’s a private swimming pool and five hectares of land to walk around in. We have three gigantic fig trees and all our fruits and vegetables can be enjoyed when they’re in season. You can just pluck them off the trees and eat them.

We have a bocce court up in the woods — it’s the Italian equivalent of boules — barbecue areas, bicycles and a scooter. Last but not least the service my wife gives is second to none. It’s fantastic.”

— Sleeping area

— What would you describe to be the essence of Villa Metato?

Margherita and Nick: “I think it’s really a place for people to spend some time getting away from their existence, their lives, and maybe by doing so, they have an opportunity to rediscover themselves or just take some time out.

We would like to welcome people to stay in our home. We all know when we go to hotels that things don’t always turn out to be exactly the way you expect them to be. What we are trying to do is make sure that people get an opportunity to spend some time on their own to relax. We are there to help them for whatever they would like to do and to give them an opportunity to see what the real Italy is all about.”

— What is the real Italy all about?

Margherita and Nick: “Finding things to see which are, in a way, different from what’s in the common tour books. I think the real world is something which is off the beaten track, a small town that’s a little gem which unless you know about it, you’ll never find. Or a little restaurant where a woman works as a teacher in the morning and then cooks traditional food in the afternoon. Those things are hard to find, and you need knowledge to be able to find them.

We cannot give our customers the whole of Italy, but what we can offer them within our area is an opportunity to enjoy parts of Italy other tourists don’t see.”

—

— Please tell me a bit about the location of Villa Metato. What do you particularly like about living in this part of Italy?

Margherita and Nick: “There are many things here which one doesn’t get in other parts of Italy — for example, the beauty and freedom of the countryside where you can walk wherever you want along numerous small tracks. For me, the countryside here is stunningly beautiful.

You can drive your car to virtually anywhere and almost leave the key and your bags in the back, with the doors unlocked. The people here and around this part of Tuscany are extremely hospitable. They welcome you with open hearts and arms. They’re very honest and genuine people.”

—

— What would you recommend not to miss in Umbria?

Margherita and Nick: “There are many festivals one can go to throughout the year in the small, local town. There are music festivals, Indian festivals, there’s Umbrian jazz, there are wine tasting tours and shopping expeditions that sell the major Italian designers at a fraction of the price.

You could go to Lake Trasimeno or sit on a beach in an hour and 20 minutes. There are wonderful small hamlets that you can find and walk to. There are other medieval towns that aren’t really in the guide books but they’re only a half an hour away.

We have a fantastic artist here I like very much called Burri — he lived in Citta di Castello and has a very nice permanent exhibition space in one of the museums.”

—

— How would you like your vacation guests to remember their stay?

Margherita and Nick: “A vacation is a journey which one comes away from thinking it was an experience that one really enjoyed. It’s important that guests enjoy the environment they are in, the service they are receiving, and the experiences which are presented to them.

Although we live next door, the guest house is very private. You become, in a way, a part of the family. We want people to feel very comfortable and secure and we want them to have a really fantastic time.”

—

— To you personally, what has been most rewarding about running Villa Metato?

Margherita and Nick: “Seeing people relax, and seeing the villa develop after all the hard work we put into it. I also like watching the garden grow, which is something I never did before with my garden in London.”

—

— When is the best time to come for a vacation in Umbria?

Margherita and Nick: “It depends, really, on what you would like to do, and the weather. If you want to come in July or August, it will be very hot. My favorite time is May and June. The weather is beautiful, not too hot or cold. It’s extremely nice then but I also like the changing of the seasons, which are very distinct here.”

—

— Thank you, Margherita and Nick!

Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.

Umbria is the “green heart of Italy”, and you certainly feel that when you visit Villa Metato. Found in the rolling hills on the border with Tuscany, this villa provides the perfect place to come and sit and snooze and never be tickled by the desire to leave. Situated just above the Upper Tiber valley amongst ancient woodland, it’s reached via a breathtaking journey through the mountains. You’re surrounded by acres of private garden, timeless views, your own pool. It’s staggeringly beautiful, heaven for those who wish to shake the city from their hair.
If this setting sets precedents, the one bedroom villa matches them. This 18th-century building has been renovated with true panache: huge windows frame the view and fabulous 20th-century designer pieces adorn the open plan interior. On your terrace, take a deep breath, relax and feel part of the ancient wood itself. (...)